Algeria Hails its Boxing Hero(ine)

Most of the world is reacting with shock and outrage over an Algerian boxer who is competing in the Paris Olympics women’s boxing competition despite the fact that his/her gender is open to serious question. Imane Khelif made headlines when his/her opponent, an Italian woman, was forced to quit for fear of suffering serious injury. In spite of the controversy over Khelif’s true gender, she/he has advanced with another victory, and is now assured of winning at least a bronze medal.

Last year, Khelif was disqualified from the International Boxing Association finals when it was determined that (Khelif) possessed too many male hormonal characteristics. Khelif denies being male, and Olympic International Committee is defending its decision to allow Khelif to compete against women.

I won’t rush to judgment on this issue because I have no idea what Khelif is, but I hope it is straightened out soon. If Khelif is, indeed a biological male, it’s bad enough that women are being deprived of the chance to compete in sports (the American swimmer, Lia Thomas, comes to mind), but if we are talking about boxing, somebody is liable to get killed here.

At any rate, back home in Algeria, the local media is all aglow and bursting with pride. An example is this article in the French-language Algerian newspaper, l”Expression, which is translated by Fousesquawk.

At the end of her fight, Imane Khelif burst into tears, a reaction shared by the 44 million Algerians who have followed her path with passion and emotion.

Imane Khelif hits hard. She has just made history in the national sport by winning a brilliant victory by unanimous decision at the Paris Olympic Games. The boxer left no room for chance, defeating her opponent with faultless mastery and determination. This triumph gives Algeria its first medal in this prestigious competition. By ensuring at least a bronze medal, Khelif gives the country its first prize in women’s boxing. Hopes now turn to gold, an ambition totally within the reach of this exceptional athlete. This victory is not only a sporting feat, but also a personal revenge for Khelif. In recent days, she has been the target of an intense smear campaign, a test that could have destabilized any athlete. However, Khelif responded in the best possible way, in the ring, showing exceptional resilience and strength.  At the end of her fight, Imane Khelif broke into tears, a reaction shared by the 44 million Algerians who have followed her path with passion and emotion. This medal is a deserved victory that goes beyond the sporting framework, embodying the hope and pride of an entire nation.